Ultimate Germany Travel Guide - Everything you need to know

Germany is a country with a long history and therefore it should not surprise you, that there are over 20.000 castles and palaces. It is a country full of famous historic buildings like the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria. And also the country of bread, sausages, and beer.

Due to its geographic position, Germany has a very diverse landscape with oceans in the north and the Alps in the south. And of course, there are many big and vibrant cities like Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt, and Dresden.

It is the perfect country for city trips or skiing trips in the ski regions in central and southern Germany. And of course, there are also many festivals like the Oktoberfest and the Christmas Markets that guarantee an amazing experience.

I grew up in Germany and had the chance to explore many big German cities before I started traveling internationally. And let me tell you that every single one of them has something that makes a trip there worthwhile. And the same can be said about all the national parks that have somehow remained a secret to international travelers.

━ Highlight ━

Places to see in Germany

Munich
Berlin
Cologne
Dusseldorf

Hamburg
Monschau
Neuschwanstein Castle

Saxon Switzerland National Park
Eifel National Park
Black Forest
Lake Constance

Things to know before you visit Germany

Frauenkirche Munich Germany — Frauenkirche, Munich

Language:

The official language is German.

Many younger people in Germany are able to speak English, but many old people often never learned how to speak the language.

Currency

The currency is the euro.

As of January 2024, the exchange rate for the euro is as follows: 1 euro equals 1.08 USD, 1.64 AUD, or 0.85 GBP.

Credit Cards & ATMs

Credit cards (MasterCard and Visa) are widely accepted at restaurants, tourist attractions, and shops. However some supermarkets and smaller places only accept cash or local debit cards, so be sure to withdraw some cash. More and more places are accepting AMEX, but at this point, it is not a viable option for travelers in Germany.

There are plenty of ATMs, so you can withdraw money whenever you need it.

Plugs

Type C and F (Voltage 230V; Frequency 50Hz)

Visa

Germany is part of the Schengen area. As such, citizens of all EU countries, Australia, Canada, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States do not require a visa if they do not remain in the Schengen area for more than 90 days within six months. You can check the German visa requirements on the official website.

Tegernsee Bavaria Germany — Tegernsee in Bavaria

Safety

Germany is a rather safe country for travelers including solo female travelers. The biggest problems are theft and pickpocketing. So be sure to lock your suitcase upon arrival and watch your bags when taking public transport or in crowds.

Be careful and keep your eyes open when you are in crowded areas like Christmas markets or festivals. It is not likely that anything will happen, but there have been some attacks in the past decade, so caution is advised. There have been instances of racist attacks in some parts of Germany.

Ultimate you should take the usual precautions while exploring the country and you will have a great time.

Best Time to visit Germany

Bluebell Forest Germany — Bluebell Forest

The best time to visit Germany depends on what exactly you want to do while there. If you are planning a city trip, Germany is a great destination year-round. After all, every single season gives the cities their own charm.

While spring brings about the blossom season full of pink cherry trees in cities like Bonn or magical bluebell forests close to Aachen, summer is the season of outdoor festivals. Meanwhile autumn paints the city in golden and orange hues as the trees start to change color. And winter turns many German cities like Monschau into a magical winter wonderland.

If you want good weather and warm to hot temperatures during your Germany trip, May to September are the best months. However, you should avoid July and August as those months are the summer school holidays. Therefore, it is when a lot of Germans travel and places become crowded and prices rise. Consequently, May to June and September to October are good options if you want to avoid the crowds. Unless you want to visit the northern coastlines that are best visited during the hottest months of July and August.

Travelers that want to visit the famous Oktoberfest have to visit Munich in late September, while those that wish to celebrate the carnival should visit Cologne or Dusseldorf in early February. The Christmas Markets usually open close to the end of November and last until Christmas, so be sure to visit during that time frame if you want to eat amazing German Christmas Market treats.

The best time for vacations in the mountains is either from May to October if you want to go hiking or climbing, or from November to April if you want to go skiing.

Things to do in Germany

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